Politics
2027: PDP govs, Obi, NNPP mull alliance to stop Tinubu
The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, confirmed the development after a closed-door meeting with Obi at the Bauchi Government House on Thursday.
He expressed his readiness to work with the former LP presidential candidate to give the country purposeful leadership.
The Bauchi meeting comes a few days after a former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, vowed to mobilise opposition figures towards unseating Tinubu in the 2027 election.
El-Rufai stated this on Monday after switching to the Social Democratic Party from the APC.
“I will focus on engaging with and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us and congregate under a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections and by-elections,” El-Rufai stated.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting with the ex-presidential candidate, the Bauchi governor said he and the PDP respected and admired Obi’s political style.
“We have a lot of respect and admiration for him because of his style of politics, his statesmanship, his versatility, his deep knowledge of the economy, and his understanding of the country. Of course, he also has a clear vision of where politics and politicians should be in terms of promoting good governance, impacting the people, and uniting the country,” he said.
Mohammed emphasised that it would be a delight to work with the former Anambra State governor, adding that they had earlier met on the way forward.
“It is a delight to work with him and listen to him. His deep knowledge, statistics and so on. And we in the PDP, as chairman of my colleagues, we have always admired him and we have always shown interest because, behind the scenes, I have been meeting with him.
“This is not the first time we met. In fact, I met him in Abuja, and I was going to meet him. But out of his normal humility, he decided to come here and we’ve discussed so many issues.
“We discussed step-by-step challenges like the challenges in Rivers State. And I feel highly appreciative of what he is doing as a leader of the opposition. Because whether we like it or not, he is the leader of the opposition now in Nigeria.”
Speaking on his plans, the governor noted, “I want to say at this level, not to make some of those doubting Thomases and curious minds to pre-empt what we are doing, that myself as a person, I am ready to work with Peter Obi.
“And to make sure we come together, close ranks, and bring good governance to the country. We will give a vibrant opposition, with knowledge, with timelines, with vision in such a manner that we would rescue and recover our country from the mediocre parading themselves as leaders.”
The former Federal Capital Territory minister said the time had come for the opposition to work together to achieve their objectives.
“Definitely, the time has come when we must step out and do things with sincerity and focus. I think our coming together is a message and the message is going to resonate because all our colleague governors are behind this kind of journey because it’s a transcendental one,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Obi explained that he was consulting with Mohammed “as a critical person in Nigerian politics.”
He said the situation in Nigeria necessitated him to visit the governor to discuss the future of the country, hinting that more such meetings would be held.
“So, it’s just a consultation and discussion meeting that will continue to go on as we talk about the future of this country. All of you are aware of where we are today, what is happening, our country and everything.
“And if we have to discuss that, we have to discuss issues happening in the North. Like I have told the governor today, that the North is a critical component if we are going to get it right in this country.”
Obi further stated, “When people talk about the criminality in Nigeria, especially when people talk about the North, I said no, there’s poverty in Nigeria. You have to deal with the issue of poverty. Until you solve poverty, you can’t solve criminality.”
He said the government needed to invest in critical areas such as education and agriculture to lift Nigerians out of poverty and address criminality.
“But as you can see in the political space now, we’re not discussing all this. What we are discussing in political space are budget padding, and sexual harassment, whereas our people are hungry. We need to discuss hunger, we need to discuss poverty, we need to discuss education and health,” he added.
Obi revealed that the Thursday meeting was a precursor to other meetings with Mohammed as they planned to engage further about the country’s future.
Meanwhile, El-Rufai has disclosed that he had the consent of former President Muhammadu Buhari to dump the APC.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa service, the ex-minister stated, “I left the APC with his full knowledge. I visited him on a Friday and informed him of my decision to leave the party because I was involved and consulted with him on all my matters.”
He recalled how as governor, he submitted the list of his commissioner-nominees to Buhari to screen them and see if any of them had ever insulted him (Buhari).
“After going through the list, he nodded his approval and offered prayers. I consult with him in all I do,” he added.
El-Rufai claimed he knew individuals who paid for ministerial appointments in Tinubu’s cabinet.
“Did I seek to be a minister? I know people who paid to get ministerial appointments,” El-Rufai responded when asked whether he anticipated that people might believe he left the APC because he was not appointed as a minister.
He stated that it would have been easier for him if the party had sacked him, as that would have saved him from the stress of explaining his exit.
The former FCT minister insisted he did not leave the APC, arguing that the party abandoned him and its original ideals.
He said those who worked for the party were not recognised or rewarded.
Asked if he had any political godfather, El-Rufai said, “I have those I consult with in everything I do. I inform them of anything I intend to do, and when they demand that I keep off, I do. My first godfather is Muhammadu Buhari. For the rest, I will not mention them because if I do, they’ll be pressured.”
Against the backdrop of insinuation that former President Buhari gave El-Rufai the nod to leave the party, the former president, on Thursday, stressed that he remained loyal to the APC and would keep working to “popularise” the party.
“I am an APC member, and I like to be addressed as such. I will try to popularise the party by all means,” Buhari declared in a statement signed by his spokesman, Garba Shehu.
When asked if he regretted supporting Tinubu, the ex-Kaduna governor replied, “I haven’t regretted it, but I have been taken by surprise.
“Why I don’t regret supporting him is that some Yoruba leaders from the southwest had visited Kaduna and informed me that the Muslims of their region were being politically marginalised. That was the first reason I supported Tinubu.
“The second reason is this: We agreed that the 2023 presidential seat would be zoned to the Southern part of Nigeria for fairness, balance and justice in the country.”
The NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, confirmed that the party and its 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, were engaging in consultations with other parties to unseat Tinubu.
Johnson stated that the party was being cautious in its coalition efforts, noting that announcements would be made at the appropriate time.
He stated, “Well, as you know, the electoral space is very wide, just like Nigeria. What I can confirm is that the party, and even the leader, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, have been in talks with various people, and groups and are still reaching out and being reached out to by different interest groups in the country.
“It is clear to most of us in the opposition that the people of the country are suffering, and that we must come together in one way or another to ensure that we end this mismanagement of our economy and other issues.
“Now, what I am saying is that not all opposition parties may be in the same vehicle, but we are working to ensure that a critical mass of opposition politicians in the country will be in one vehicle and will provide leadership for others who will come around to ensure that, politically speaking, we defeat the incumbent administration.”
He noted, “I cannot say whether we will or will not see it. But I can confirm the willingness of the NNPP to talk to others. That is already happening—talking to groups, individuals, or perhaps some parties.
“But at this stage, tactically speaking, we tend not to say who we are talking with as a party. But the party itself is very strategic, making sure that its steps are circumspect in what we do.
“At the right time, you will receive announcements and updates. But we are in the loop, we are consulting and being consulted.”
The Coalition of United Political Parties also confirmed the move by the opposition political parties to form a coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The National Secretary of CUPP, Peter Ahmeh, stated that only a proven southern candidate could defeat Tinubu.
But the Peoples Democratic Party described its platform as the strongest to host other opposition parties in the fight for power against the ruling APC.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has also repeatedly stressed the importance of unity among the opposition parties.
On March 8, the 2023 PDP presidential candidate revealed that he was working to unite opposition parties in a coalition to remove the APC from power.
“Atiku is advocating a robust coalition that would accommodate all opposition parties – the PDP inclusive,” he stated in a statement by his media aide.
In an interview, the CUPP scribe confirmed that consultations regarding a coalition were ongoing but added that an agreement had yet to be reached on the chosen platform.
He stated, “Yes, consultations and conversations about a coalition of opposition political parties to defeat Tinubu in 2027 are ongoing.
“The opposition parties need to come together, and they must also take into consideration that there is a quiet agreement between the South and the North that power shall continue to rotate.
“I am very sure 100 per cent that if a northern candidate appears in this coalition, Tinubu will win the election before noon. So, the South should be allowed to spend eight years and they should also consider other candidates from other parts.
“We have to look at candidates with records. We must also make sure that the parties come together for the benefit of the masses, especially the suffering masses of this country.”
The CUPP secretary, who identified Obi as the only southern candidate capable of defeating Tinubu, urged the northerners involved in the coalition discussions to select credible running mates from their region.
He continued, “It was a personal decision for El-Rufa’i to join the SDP, which is within his right as a free citizen of this country. But that is not where the decision of the opposition coalition lies.
“Maybe he’s trying to bring the SDP to the table as part of the opposition coalition.
“But the issue with the 2027 election is that the opposition must take it very seriously because I know that, yes, the APC itself has been disarrayed, but it’s not something we should take for granted.
“The APC is the one that currently controls the apparatus of the state. So, the stronger the opposition, the better for the opposition to achieve this objective, the better for all in the end.
“If we have a coalition that brings in more northern leaders, it can bring in more interested people who can galvanise voters, encourage voters, and have their own voter base and support base.
“If the intent and purpose of those who are discussing the coalition today is to defeat Tinubu, they have only one choice: a southern candidate, that is Obi. So, the North should come up with a running mate.”
The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, said the opposition political parties must set aside their egos and form a coalition against the APC.
The party chieftain expressed concerns that selecting a presidential candidate might be a risky move for the coalition and urged other parties to adopt the PDP as the platform for the coalition.
He said, “There are two sides to every issue. On both sides of the screen, you have a coalition, which in itself seems like a good thing because it brings most of the key actors together on the same page.
“But the danger lies in that level of cooperation and agreement—who will settle for which role, and who will agree to step down for the sake of the desperate politicians?
“I am not against the PDP bridging the coalition, but I am against people who should only be contesting for governorship or Senate positions in their states, in the name of the coalition, yet want to run for President.
“If we can truly understand what fits us, how to address that, and align our actions accordingly, there wouldn’t be too much of a quarrel.”
He urged those leading the coalition to be honest, stressing that the PDP was open to discussions and willing to accommodate all coalition interests.
The LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said the party’s National Working Committee was, however, not involved in any coalition discussions with individuals or other parties.
He described the LP as a powerful party and expressed doubts that coalition talks would be pursued by the party leadership, noting that Obi’s actions were driven by his interests.
He stated, “Our presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, can, in his capacity, mingle and discuss with like-minded individuals because it’s all about politics, and every politician is looking ahead to the next election.
“As you can see, many people are meeting each other and talking on an individual basis.
“However, on a party level, I have not seen any party, as of today, that has come forward to discuss coalition or anything merger with LP.
“Nigerian political parties are not run by individuals; they are run by a collective group of elected NWC and National Executive Committee members who sit down to decide the affairs and the next steps the party must take.
“As I speak to you now, the Labour Party has not brought up such matters in the National Working Committee. Therefore, it has not been discussed, and I doubt it will be.”
Buhari reaffirms loyalty
Former President Buhari, in a statement titled “I Am APC Member, I Like To Be Addressed As One – Buhari,” debunked notions that he was working against the party, stating that he would never abandon a party that gave him the platform to serve as Nigeria’s leader for two consecutive terms.
The statement read, “Without referring to any individual, a cast of characters, or issues, principles and ideals currently being discussed by party leaders at various levels, the former President, Muhammadu Buhari, has reiterated what he said times without number that he is member of the All Progressives Congress and would like to be addressed as a loyal member of the party.
“He says he wants to leave no one in doubt that he would never turn his back on the party that gave him two terms of office and would do whatever he can to popularise it.
“I am an APC member and I like to be addressed as such. I will try to popularise the party by all means.”
Buhari noted that at present, he had nothing but gratitude for the support that the party gave him before and during his tenure as president, which he considered as the highest honour, and would never ask for anything more.
He further stated that the pains taken by the founding fathers to establish a strong party to protect the constitution and democracy as a system of government were worthy sacrifices that should be cherished and nurtured.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Ten communities that make up Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State are set for a showdown with their traditional rulers following the alleged suspension of the zoning arrangement for the Anambra State House of Assembly elections.
Recall that on April 7, 2022, the traditional rulers, in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), resolved that the House of Assembly seats for Anaocha I and Anaocha II constituencies would rotate among the ten communities, with each town occupying the seat for two terms.
The traditional rulers further resolved that the rotation would subsist irrespective of the political party through which lawmakers emerge, noting that the arrangement was aimed at ensuring that all ten communities have the opportunity to produce members of the State Assembly in the interest of equity and fairness.
However, the Anaocha Equity Forum, shortly after its meeting, expressed concern over the alleged suspension of the zoning arrangement.
Speaking, the Convener of the Anaocha Equity Forum, Mr. Valentine Okoye, said the forum would not take kindly to what it described as acts capable of destabilising the council area, adding that any such move would be resisted.
“This is a Memorandum of Understanding signed by our traditional rulers, and it has been respected until now. We in the Anaocha Equity Forum see this as a slap on the sensibilities of the ten communities that make up the area,” he said.
“We urge members of the public, political parties, and stakeholders to disregard the alleged position of the traditional rulers, as it does not represent the views and aspirations of our people.
“Our traditional rulers should be mindful of their roles as fathers of their respective communities. They should also understand that they would be held responsible for whatever backlash or consequences may arise from this recent position.
“We call on Governor Charles Soludo to call the traditional rulers to order so that the peace currently enjoyed in Anaocha Local Government Area will not be disrupted,” he stated.
The exit of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, two prominent opposition figures, has weakened the African Democratic Congress across both chambers of the National Assembly.
The National Democratic Congress, which received Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso on Sunday, recorded its biggest gains on Tuesday with the addition of 17 House members and a senator. Weeks earlier, its ranks expanded when Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to join the party.
The development comes a few days after several opposition parties resolved to present a single presidential candidate against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
The wave of defection to the NDC occurred 48 hours after Obi and Kwankwaso, two of the ADC’s most prominent figures, formally exited the party. These moves have significantly altered the opposition landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, setting the stage for shifting political alliances.
Additionally, the latest defectors, drawn from Kano, Anambra, Lagos, Edo, Rivers, and Kogi States, cited internal disarray within the ADC as a major factor that influenced their decision.
While reading their letters on the floor of the House, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary session, said the lawmakers blamed the party’s instability for their departure, noting that the crisis remained “unresolved starting from the ward to the national level.”
The defectors to the NDC are Yusuf Datti, Sani Adamu, Zakari Mukhtari, Kamilu Ado, Harris Okonkwo, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Peter Anekwe, Emeka Idu, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, and Afam Ogene. Others include Lagos lawmakers Thaddeus Attah, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, George Olwande, and Jese Onuakalusi, as well as Murphy Omroruyi from Edo and Umezuruike Manuchim from Rivers State.
In a separate move, Kogi lawmaker Leke Abejide defected from the ADC to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The coordinated nature of the defections is widely interpreted as a show of loyalty to Obi and Kwankwaso, whose switch to the NDC is already reshaping opposition dynamics.
Both men are influential political figures with strong regional bases—Obi in the South-East and Kwankwaso in the North-West—and their exit from the ADC appears to have triggered a ripple effect among lawmakers aligned with their political structures.
The ADC’s current troubles did not emerge overnight. In recent months, tensions within the party escalated over leadership struggles, strategy disagreements, and competing ambitions among top figures.
The situation worsened amid reports of irreconcilable differences between Obi, Kwankwaso, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was also a central figure in opposition coalition talks.
Efforts to build a united front ahead of 2027 reportedly broke down due to mistrust, zoning disagreements, and control of party structures.
Their eventual defection to the NDC marked a turning point. Seen as a more viable platform for consolidating opposition strength, the NDC quickly became a magnet for lawmakers and political actors seeking stability and clearer leadership direction.
With the departure of key figures and a steady decline in its legislative strength, the ADC now faces a daunting struggle to maintain political relevance.
The loss of national figures like Obi and Kwankwaso, combined with the defection of lawmakers across multiple states, appears to have weakened its structure and electoral prospects.
Only last week, the party boasted 24 members of the House of Representatives, but it is now left with six.
Once the dominant opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party may equally struggle to retain its status.
Though still officially the most formidable opposition in the House, the PDP currently has 29 members in the Green Chamber, down from 116 members in its ranks at the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in June 2023.
Barely a year to the inauguration of the 11th National Assembly, the Senate on Tuesday moved to tighten its internal rules, effectively narrowing the path to its most powerful offices and edging out a class of incoming lawmakers, including serving governors and former senators eyeing leadership positions.
In a move widely seen as pre-emptive, the red chamber, after about three hours of a closed-door session, amended Orders 4 and 5 of its Standing Rules, restricting eligibility for both presiding and principal offices to ranking lawmakers with defined legislative experience.
The amendments come amid growing interest by outgoing governors and political heavyweights, many of whom are positioning to enter the Senate in 2027 to contest for top leadership roles such as Senate President and Deputy Senate President.
Under the Revised Order 4, the Senate reinforced a strict hierarchy for the emergence of presiding officers, stating that “Nomination of senators to serve as Presiding Officers shall be in accordance with the ranking of senators and shall be strictly adhered to.
“The order of ranking are (i) Former President of the Senate, (ii) Former Deputy President of the Senate, (iii) Former Principal Officers of the Senate, (iv) Senators who had served at least one term of four years, (v) Senators who had been members of the House of Representatives, (vi) In the absence of i to v, senators elected into the Senate for the first time,” it stated.
Beyond this ranking structure, the Senate introduced a more stringent provision in Order 5, effectively excluding first-time and non-consecutive lawmakers from contesting principal offices.
The amended rule states: “Any senator shall not be eligible to contest for any principal office of the Senate unless he has served as a senator for at least two consecutive terms immediately preceding nomination.”
The implication is far-reaching: senators-elect who were not members of both the 9th and 10th National Assembly would be ineligible to vie for key leadership roles in the 11th Assembly.
Presiding offices in the Senate include the Senate President and Deputy Senate President, while principal offices comprise Senate Leader, Deputy Senate Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Whip, Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip.
The rule changes come against the backdrop of an intensifying scramble for Senate seats ahead of the 2027 general elections, driven largely by governors completing their constitutionally allowed two terms.
No fewer than 10 state governors and several former governors are already angling to secure senatorial tickets, leveraging their influence over party structures to emerge as consensus candidates in their respective states.
At least 12 of the 36 state governors are in their second and final terms, with 10 set to complete their tenure by May 29, 2027.
The looming transition has triggered a wave of political realignments, with many seeking to maintain relevance and influence by moving to the National Assembly.
Eight of the affected governors are from the ruling All Progressives Congress, while Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party, and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed is aligned with the Allied Peoples Movement.
Those expected to exit office in 2027 include AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), alongside Makinde and Bala Mohammed.
Although Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will complete their tenures in early 2028 due to off-cycle elections, both have been drawn into early permutations for Senate seats.
In Imo State, the political temperature has risen sharply following moves by the All Progressives Congress to position Uzodimma for the Imo West senatorial seat.
Party leaders in the state have already named him as the consensus candidate, even as the incumbent senator, Osita Izunaso, is reportedly seeking a return to the red chamber.
Last Saturday, APC leaders from the Orlu Zone (Imo West), led by the state chairman, Chief Austin Onyedebelu, purchased the 2027 senatorial nomination form for the governor, urging him to accept the ticket.
Onyedebelu, who presented the forms to Uzodimma’s Chief of Staff, Chief Nnamdi Anyaehie, called for pressure on the governor to “accept the plea of Orlu people by filling the forms so that it can be submitted before the deadline of 5th May, 2026.”
The state APC has also warned other aspirants against contesting the seat, insisting that Uzodimma remains the consensus choice.
Complicating the contest, former Governor Rochas Okorocha equally purchased nomination forms in a bid to return to the Senate, a move confirmed by one of his aides, Darlington Ibekwe.
The Orlu Political Consultative Assembly further reinforced Uzodimma’s candidacy, declaring him the sole candidate for the district in what it described as a “total, unanimous, and irrevocable decision.”
The unfolding contest is also shaped by internal power dynamics within the ruling party.
Last month, President Bola Tinubu reportedly rebuffed attempts by National Assembly leaders to secure automatic return tickets for lawmakers, instead reaffirming the authority of state governors over candidate selection.
The stance has strengthened governors’ grip on party structures, enabling many of them to influence senatorial nominations as they prepare for life after office.
Against this backdrop, the Senate’s rule amendments appear designed to preserve institutional hierarchy and prevent an influx of first-time lawmakers, many of them politically powerful, from immediately taking control of the chamber’s leadership.
For ambitious entrants like Uzodimma and others plotting a return or debut in the Senate, the message from the red chamber is clear: experience within its ranks, not political clout outside it, will determine who leads in the 11th National Assembly.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra state has finally submitted the first batch of the list of Commissioners made up of 18 nominees to the Anambra State House of Assembly.
Recall that this reporter had predicted that the Governor would announce the list of his Cabinet members on or before the end of this week.
According to the Special Assistant to the Speaker of the Assembly on New Media Mr Franklin Osankwa , the Speaker Hon Somtochukwu Udeze has already sent the list to the Screening Committee of the legislature.
A breakdown of the list indicates that only four former Commissioners who worked with him during his first term in office were returned .
They include the Commissioner for Health Dr Afam Obidike , Professor Offonze Amucheazi Ministry of Lands , Mr Patrick Agba , Youth Development and Commissioner for Information Dr Law Mefor .
Similarly the list of Special Assistants and Senor Special Assistants and Advisers is being awaited .
No fewer than 10 state governors and former governors are actively working to replace incumbent senators ahead of the 2027 general elections, in what appears to be a sweeping political realignment reshaping Nigeria’s legislative landscape.
The sitting governors, whose tenure will expire by May 2027, are leveraging their control of party structures in their states to secure Senate tickets—largely through “consensus” arrangements.
At least 12 of Nigeria’s 36 incumbent governors are currently serving their second and final terms. Of that number, 10 will complete their constitutionally mandated eight years on May 29, 2027, setting the stage for a high-stakes political transition that is already unsettling party structures nationwide.
Eight of the affected governors are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Seyi Makinde of Oyo State belongs to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State is affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party, contrary to earlier claims linking him to the Allied Peoples Movement.
Governors expected to complete their tenure in 2027 include AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Muhammadu Yahaya (Gombe), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), alongside Makinde and Bala Mohammed.
Although Governors Douye Diri of Bayelsa and Hope Uzodimma of Imo will also finish their second terms, their exit dates fall in January and February 2028, respectively, due to off-cycle elections. However, their extended timelines have not excluded them from early succession and Senate calculations.
Last month, President Bola Tinubu, during a meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly, rebuffed lobbying efforts by lawmakers seeking automatic return tickets ahead of the 2027 elections. Instead, he reaffirmed the authority of state governors over candidate selection in their respective states.
Sources familiar with the meeting revealed that senators had approached the President to seek assurances for automatic tickets.
“The meeting was to plead for automatic tickets, but the President insisted that governors, as party leaders in their states, must have a decisive say on who gets the ticket,” a source disclosed.
Less than 24 hours later, Tinubu convened another meeting with APC governors, where he reportedly gave them a free hand to conduct party primaries in accordance with the Electoral Act—either through consensus or direct primaries.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago confirmed this, stating that the President had effectively empowered governors to drive the primaries process.
Investigations across several states—including Yobe, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Ogun, Gombe, Bauchi, Kwara, and Imo—indicate a growing pattern in which party stakeholders endorse governors or their preferred candidates as sole contenders. In many cases, rivals are pressured to step aside, while primaries are either avoided or reduced to mere formalities.
In Yobe State, Senator Musa Mustapha (Yobe East) stepped aside to support Governor Mai Mala Buni after a stakeholders’ meeting in Damaturu. He also withdrew from the governorship race, pledging full loyalty to party leadership decisions.
Similarly, in Gombe State, former governor and Senator Danjuma Goje lost his bid for a fifth term following a zoning arrangement favouring a candidate aligned with Governor Yahaya.
In Imo State, Governor Hope Uzodimma has been endorsed as the consensus candidate for Imo West, despite the interest of incumbent Senator Osita Izunaso. The move has triggered tension, with former governor Rochas Okorocha also entering the race.
In Ogun State, the consensus model has broken down into open conflict, as Governor Dapo Abiodun’s Senate ambition has put him at odds with incumbent Senator Gbenga Daniel.
In Adamawa, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has emerged as the consensus candidate for Adamawa North, with the incumbent senator stepping aside in his favour.
Similar developments have been recorded in Nasarawa, Kwara, Delta, and Kogi states, where governors and former governors are positioning themselves to take over Senate seats—often displacing incumbents.
Meanwhile, in Cross River State, former governor Ben Ayade revealed he had been asked to drop his Senate ambition following high-level consultations, a decision he described as painful and unjust.
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